Tag Archives: shark

Finished this small painting for a collector recently. The title is Venerable and it is an acrylic on canvas, 4″ wide by 4″ high. Did you know that sharks are older than trees? Sharks have been in existence for 400 million years, surviving 4 global mass extinctions. The earliest species of what we would classify as a tree existed 350 million years ago. Given the negative association with sharks, I wanted to create a painting that emphasized their importance in the balance of nature. It’s when things are out of balance that we have problems. The recent upsurge in shark attacks is actually linked to climate change. As waters are becoming warmer, they become more hospitable to larger, more diverse shark populations, and allow for sharks to move into areas that were previously “shark-free.” This is just one reason why it is imperative that we make responsible choices and shrink our carbon footprint now rather than later.

More good press this week- I had a nice surprise this morning when I discovered my painting for “The Great West Coast Migration” traveling exhibit is featured on Hi-Fructose. Over 100 artists have come together to support PangeaSeed’s conservation and preservation efforts for sharks and oceans in Japan and beyond. The exhibit will travel to galleries along the West Coast starting this Friday (the 13th- eek!) at Roq la Rue in Seattle. For the tour schedule and to check out some of the featured works (including my own!) visit this direct link: http://hifructose.com/2012/07/04/the-great-west-coast-migration-pangeaseed-benefit-art-tour/.

Finally finished! I’ve just completed my painting for The Great West Coast Migration traveling exhibition. The title is One and it is an acrylic on canvas, 6″ x 6.” The exhibition is organized by PangeaSeed and will benefit sharks and oceans in Japan and abroad. Given that so many sharks are killed for their fins (a delicacy in Japan and China), this cause was of particular interest to me not only as an artist but as a vegan as well. People often think of sharks as vicious predators, (thanks, Media!) when in fact, they do not seek out humans and only a small percentage of shark attacks occur each year. I wanted to focus on them as being part of this world and just as significant as the rest of us. I combined the human faces with the shark body to illustrate them as one, or equals. The shark body floats in the air, in keeping with many of my other paintings, but also mimicking the hunted, hanging sharks I so often see. Such a simple title- One– and such a simple concept, yet we still struggle to see our planet as something to share rather than dominate.

I have recently been invited to participate in The Great West Coast Migration, a touring art exhibition, organized by PangeaSeed in an effort to benefit sharks and oceans in Japan and beyond. According to PangeaSeed, “We are very excited to showcase a robust fund-raising art collection featuring works contributed by more than 100 internationally renowned artists, graphic designers, filmmakers and photographers. Almost all of our globally-based artist friends will be premiering their works for the first time ever in the United States. Also a percentage of the proceeds from the summer exhibitions will also help in aiding the startup of PangeaSeed’s inaugural west coast chapter whose mission and efforts will help further fundraising to keep sharks afloat on the west coast and around the world.”